A question about Political Correctness

Political correctness when it comes to ethnicity is just ridiculous. For example, I have a handful of South African- and Zimbabwean-born white friends who have residency in America. They are truly African Americans... and one of them insists on being referred to as such, much to the chagrin of others. I also have a black Haitian friend who prefers to be referred to as anything BUT African American. For me the tipping point in the PC movement came when I saw "South Pacific Islander American" on a government form...